The first step toward overcoming his depression, he has said, was acceptance. He has stated in interviews that accepting his life, which includes the challenges that arise, was a step toward coping. He avoided drugs and alcohol, channeled his negative feelings into acting, and kept himself busy and focused on work. He also has been quoted as saying that a spiritual experience has led him to rely on his beliefs and spiritual connections to overcome his depression.

Ashley Judd

Judd once described herself as “absolutely certifiably crazy.” In fact, she suffers from bipolar disorder. The actress, in her biography, All That Is Bitter And Sweet, blamed her depression on a childhood that was rife with abuse and loneliness, considering suicide as early as the sixth grade, and battling her disease throughout her life. In 2006, Judd spent 42 days in a clinic for depression, and credited the stint with saving her life, according to a 2011 People interview. In 2012, she told ABC News, “I’m so tired of holding up all this pain, I’m so glad to come to treatment.”

For Judd, some of her treatment came in the form of her psychological support dog, Shug, who she keeps at her side. Other interviews have acknowledged that reconciling with her estranged family, her charity work, and seeking treatment for her depression are all factors that have led her to a fulfilling life with a loving husband and successful acting career.

Buzz Aldrin

Depression, it seems, isn’t just an Earthly battle. For the second man to walk on the moon, fame that followed him off the planet did little to ease his own battle with depression. Upon his return from the historic flight, Aldrin faced a tattered marriage, a struggle with alcoholism, and a bright media spotlight that only worsened his battles with depression. Furthering these troubles was his own difficult family history, with a tense relationship with his father and a mother. According to The Telegraph, Aldrin's mom committed suicide shortly before the lunar mission to avoid the spotlight of her son’s newfound fame. Aldrin hit rock bottom shortly after breaking down his girlfriend’s apartment door in a drunken rage, an episode that forced him to realize that he needed to regain control of his life.